Folding table



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet .2. A. CLAYPOOL.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 462,236. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. CLAYPUUL.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 462,236. Patented Nov. 3, 11891.

m /f 2 l O'gy Z UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT CLAYPOOL, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,236, dated November 3, 1891. Application filed October 20, 1890. Serial No. 368,676. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT CLAYPooL, of Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereomwhich form part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to folding tables, having especial reference to that character of tables in which the leaves may be extended to give a broad surface of top or folded to occupy but small space when not in use.

The object of the invention is to providea table of this character that shall be provided with means to automatically fold the legs between the body portion of the table when in the act of folding the leaves.

A further object is to provide a knockdown table of this character to afford better-means for transportation or storage.

A further object is to combine simplicity with rigidity, to thereby7 lessen the cost of manufacture, and to produce a table adapted for library or domestic purposes of any character.

The invention consists, broadly, in providing leg-sections, two or more of which shall be movable and adapted to be folded below the table within an area comprised by the central section of the top.

The invention further consists in providing a movable top section in direct mechanical operation with the movable leg-sections, and whereby the two shall move to place in unison.

The invention further consists in providing a table of the above-described character with means for separating the parts when it is desired to pack the same compactly.

In the drawings which form part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of one form of table constructed in accordance with my invention, showing in full lines the leaves extended with the leg-sections in proper position to sustain the table and in dotted lines the leaves folded with the leg-sections moved to occupy a space corresponding with the central sections of the top of the table. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same with the top of the table removed to disclose the mechanism for folding the leg-sections. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same on lines a? Fig. 2. Fig. l is a horizontal section on lines y y, Fig. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on lines e e, Fig. 0,'showing a modified form of support for'the table. of the construction shown in Fig. 5, showing the upper cross-bars of the table-support and mechanism for moving the foldable portion thereof. Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing a modified form of attachment of the tablesupport in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and G. Fig. S is a modification showing a rack-and-pinion mechanism for opening and closing the leg-sections. Fig. 9 is a similar View showing a iexible connection uniting the rod to which the movable leg-sections are connected and the table-top.

l designates a central standard of the table, upon which is mounted a transverse base- Fig. 6 is a plan view board 2, upon which side pieces 3 are secured and upon which the central section et of the table-top may be supported and moved, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

5 designates a metal plate of circular form 'having a bottom G, upon which are formed lugs 7, the plate being formed with a slot S, extending diametrically across the same, and with lugs 9, perforated to receivescrews or nails by which to secure the plate to the under side of the central portion -t of the tabletop.

l0 designates leaves hinged upon each side of the central portion 4, adapted to be folded, as shown in dotted lines of Fig. l, or extended,"{as shown in full lines.

ll designates leg-sections arched from the center either way to project vertically-disposed ends as supports to rest upon the oor, the sections being halved at the center and crossed, as shown in Figs. l, 2,3, and 4. The upper section is rigidly secured to the standard 1, the lower section being movable thereon and held in place by a vertical rod l2, eX- tendin g through the standard and formed with a square end 13, which fits tightly within a square mortise formed within the lower legsection, the upper end of the rod l2 being ICO formed with a T-head or cross piece 14, adapted, when passed through slot S of metal plate 6, to be actuated when contacting with lugs 7 to cause the lower section 11 of the leg to fold when in the act of folding the top of the table. Rod 12 is held firmly in place by means of a nut 15, screwed upon the. lower threaded end thereof.

In operation, when it is desired to extend the table, (the leaves and leg-sections being folded,) the leaves are brought to a horizontal position and the top ,given a one-fourth turn upon the side pieces 3, which causes lugs 7 to contact with the ends of th-e'T-head 14 of rod l2, thereby moving thelower leg-sections 11, cau-singthe salneto standat right angles to each other, thereby forming a firm support for the ltabl-e. In folding ythe-,table thecentral section 4 is given a one-fourth .tur-n in a direction opposite to that in extending the table, which causes lugsupon the plate upon the opposite side .of the T-,head to contact therewith, and revolving rod 12 ,to fold the legs to yoccupy a like farea with -that ofthe portion 4, Awhen the leaves iria-y be (dropped, .as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Then it is desired to take the table apart,

lnut 15 is unscrewed from rod 12. :Said `rod is raised vertically with vthe litopof the table until the rod is :removed fro-m standard 1 and base-board 2, when, -by .givingrod 12 a-turn to 1cause the T-head 14 to register with @slot '8, it can bereadily removed from the top l.of the table, thereby allowing the part-s to be compactly :assembled for transportation or of the upper bars 16 a'ndalso one of the lower bars 17 are movable to fold between the central portion 4 of :the table, as has been here` tofore described, the movement being effected bythe projections 7 upon the under sideof the table-top, the reverse movement of the table-top causing the projection upon .the op? posite side to spread the leg and form a support for the table.

In the last modification the table-top has secured thereon the plate 5 for the purpose of rendering the same a knockdown table; but it will be obvious that in either of the constructions heretofore described' the rod 12 may be secured directly to the top of the table, as shown in Fig. 7 at 19, this being usual in constructing Ya cheaper form of table.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a segmental racklplate 20 secured to the under side of the table-top and a pinion 21 secured to the rod l2 By turning the said top the pinion is actuated, and thus opens-or closes the leg-sections.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a flexible connection 22, Which vis coiled aroundthe rod 12, and is secured at its ends to the table-top and at its center to the said rod. This latter construction acts to open or to close the `leg-sections in the same manner as in those Vconstructions :already described.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and kdesire .to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folding table, the combination, with a supporting-standard, of a movable top-section turning on said stan-dard, the movable legs, the central rod journaled in ythe standard and to which the movable legs are attached, and the radially-arranged contacting surfaces attached to the Vmovable section and Athereto at its lower end, and a cross-piece at 9 its upper end, in combination with a movable top portion having projections adapted to contact with the said cross-piece.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I hereby affix my signature in presence of .two Witnesses.

ALBERT CLAYPOOL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM WEBSTER, CARROLL J. WEBSTER.

TOO 

